The possibility that President Park Geun-hye may defect from the ruling party is groundless, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Friday.

In a Cabinet meeting Thursday, Park criticized lawmakers, including the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, saying that they have betrayed the people by only pursuing political interests and that they should be sternly judged by the people.

She also vetoed a parliamentary bill designed to empower the National Assembly to challenge government enactment, denouncing it as the assembly's encroachment on administrative rights.

Following Park's comments, some ruling and opposition lawmakers raised the possibility that Park may consider defecting from her party ahead of upcoming general elections early next year.

"President Park criticized lawmakers who had only pursued their political interests," the presidential office told Yonhap News Agency on Friday. "Her comments were made so that the people would judge the lawmakers pursuing the politics of betrayal."

"It is just a novel-like story that the president may defect." the official added.

Main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy leader Moon Jae-in, meanwhile, slammed Park, saying it is she that should be judged by the people.

"President Park is the one who needs to be judged by the people," Moon said in a meeting with lawmakers. "The president should offer an apology and self-examine malicious words against the National Assembly and the people." (Yonhap)